More than 8 million people in New York are expected to receive inflation refund checks starting at the end of September 2025. The program, announced by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, is the first of its kind in the state and is designed to provide relief for residents who have felt the impact of rising prices.
According to the department, to qualify for the inflation refund check, residents must have filed Form IT-201, the New York State resident income tax return, for the year 2023. Only full-year residents are eligible. In addition, anyone who was claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return will not receive a check.
Eligibility is tied to both income level and filing status, and the payment amounts vary accordingly. For single filers and heads of household with adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 or less, the maximum refund is $200, per the department’s website. Those in the same filing category with incomes between $75,000 and $150,000 will receive $150. Married couples filing jointly, as well as qualifying surviving spouses, with incomes of $150,000 or less, will receive $400, while those earning above $150,000 and up to $300,000 will get $300. Married individuals who file separately fall into the same income and payment brackets as single filers, meaning they may receive either $200 or $150, depending on their income.
Residents will not need to apply for the refund, as checks will be mailed out automatically, according to the department. They will be sent to the address listed on each person’s most recently filed 2024 state tax return. Since millions of payments are being processed, state officials have said it could take several weeks for all checks to arrive. Anyone who has moved since filing their return should update their address with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to prevent delays. Updates can be made by logging into an Individual Online Services account or by creating one if a resident doesn’t already have one.
Even if a filer received a previous refund by direct deposit, the state has clarified that the inflation refund checks will not be deposited electronically and will only be sent through the mail. Another detail residents should know is that these payments will not be applied to outstanding debts, meaning households that qualify will still receive the full refund amount.
Unlike the New York STAR payments, which provide property tax relief, as AFROTECH™ previously reported, the inflation refund check is a one-time payment based on income and filing status, and residents who qualify for both programs will receive them separately.
Residents can visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website for more information.
